Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-04-02

Why, of course, they ought to send a
message and let 'em know, replied Mrs.
Miller. They're their own kin, though
not very nigh; and nat'rally they'd 60 to
the funeral"
Mrs. Miller turned aside two squares to
speak to Fanny Bates, Mr. John Coles
wife's sister Miss Bates was seated at
her window sewing, aud Mrs. Miller
called to her:
"Say, Fanny, does your sister Cole
know that old Mrs. Cole of Barnville's
dead2"
'Dead2 Good gracious. you don't say
sol'' said Miss Bates, dropping her work
and leaning out of the window. ''Do
come in and tell
"Well, can't conveniently stop jest
now, as it's time to be putting on dinner,
and Hiram's so particular. But Nv jest
this mint heerd from Mrs. Brown that
the old lady was a-dying yesterday, when
Mrs. Stebbins left Barnville, and Of
course, the funeral will be tomorrow.
Wonder if your sister Cole will go("
Il don't know as she's heard of it, p"
Miss Fanny Bates answered, in some ex-
citement. "But I'll go right round and
see. We never heard she was sick, or
Jane would have gone up to see her,
though commonly there amt much visit
ing between EN-"
Mrs. John Cole was busy making ap-
pie dumplings when her sister rushed into
the kitchen.
"Jane-oh. myi I'm most out O.
breath. Have you heard of old Mrs.
Coles death in Barnville"
Mrs. John dropped the dumping which
she was Just rounding symmetrically in
the palms of her hands.
Good gracious, Fanny. you've given
me turn. When did she dic2 and how
did YOU hear it,"
''she was dying when Mrs. stebbins
left Barnville yesterday, and Mrs. Miller
says the funeral will be tomorrow"
"And they never sent me a word Of
message! Well, that beats! But then
we ought to make allowance for folks,
when there's death in the family, and
so much grief and trouble, and such lot
of things to attend to. Besides, it
mightn't be convenient to get horse
and boy to come fifteen miles to let us
know; so all the same, we'll go to the
funeral. 'Twouldn't look friendly, nor
like kin, not to do so; and you can go
can go along with us, Fanny, being
Johns sister-in-law. They'd take it
kindly of you"
"And there's Mrs. Hill," said Fanny.
"She's some sort O. kin to the Coles on
the old mans side Maybe she and her
daughter would like to go, as they've
got a carryall of their own. I'll just run
round and let her know"
Mrs. John returned to her dumplings,
with deep sigh.
''It does seem heartless and unfeeling
to be making apple-dumblings for dinner
and ones husbands kin lying dead in
her coffin" she remarked to her half
grown daughter LUCKY, there's that
cake we made for Sundays meeting.
I'll take it with me, for there'll be sight
of folks from a distance come to the
funeral, and some of 'em will have to
stay to dinner And you can get good
basket of grapes out of the garden,
Lizzie. They're early and won't come in
amiss."
''And we must have plenty of white
Mowers, you know, ma, said Lizzie, in
lively excitement and anticipation; ''and
I'll wear black sash with my white
dress, like Judge Martins daughters at
old Miss hartin's funeral.
wen all wear our black dresses, ="
sad Mrs. Cole. 1T looks more respect
iul-llke; and I'm told it's the fashion at
funerals, even where there's no kin"
So, next morning, bright and early,
two vehicles were seen to leave the little
village, closely crowded with black
robed figures, most of whom carried
wreathes and punches of white flow
ers.
In this part of the country it was the
custom to have all 'buryings" at precise
ly one O'Clock. so the party had no fear
Of being too late for the fnncrak
Mr.. John Cole drove his own wagon.
and Mrs. Hill hers. containing her dangh.
ter and couple Of neighbors. who. hav-
ing slight acquaintance with the Barn.
vile Coles. considered # bpt friendly
and resnectful 70 tbc family IN attend
the funeral
They went at a brisk rate until tbev
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